What to do in Beijing with kids? Beijing, also known as Peking, is the capital of China. Located in the northeastern part of the country, it is one of four cities directly administered by the central government. Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of more than 21 million. The city has many historical sites, including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and parts of the Great Wall of China. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities in Beijing.
Best travel time Beijing with kids
The best travel time to visit Beijing with kids are the months of April, May, October and November. This is because during these months there is less rainfall and temperatures are pleasant. Summers in Beijing are very hot and humid. July and August are the months with the highest temperatures. We were there in August with the kids and it was indeed hot, but doable.
Transportation to and in Beijing
Many families with kids visiting Beijing travel to the city by plane or train. Throughout the country there are many high-speed trains and that way you can travel to the city very easily. If you arrive at the Beijing airport with kids, it is still 30 kilometers to the city.
You can then take the bus from the airport (70 minutes travel time), the cab (40 minutes travel time or the train (20 minutes travel time to the metro station and then continue by metro to your hotel).
The best way to explore the city of Beijing itself is by subway, cab or on foot Beijing has a great subway system that allows quick access to all sights. You can buy day passes for one or more days at a good price.
This can be done with and without a passport, but if you buy a metro card without a passport you will pay the amount of deposit extra for your metro card The cost of a ride on the metro depends on the distance of the ride.
Children’s activities Beijing
Here are some activities not to miss when visiting Beijing with kids.
#1 The Great Wall of China
Of course, if you go to Beijing, a visit to the Great Wall of China should not be missed. The Great Wall of China is one of the 7 wonders of the world and one of the great attractions of China.
Construction of the Great Wall of China began in the 7th century BC, during the period of the warring states. However, the most famous parts of the wall were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to protect the Chinese empire from incursions by nomadic tribes from the north.
The wall was built with different materials, depending on availability in the region. In mountainous areas, stone was mainly used, while other parts of the wall used rammed earth, brick and wood. The Great Wall of China stretches for about 21,196 kilometers, from the eastern coast at Shanhaiguan to Lop Nur in the west.
So much for history. You can visit the wall in several places, the most famous of which are Badaling and Mutianyu. We went to Mutianyu. It is less crowded here than Badaling, but we mainly chose this part because there is a toboggan run. Fun for the kids. You can get there by public transport or organized transport.
We booked a tour through GetYourGuide . Kind of easy. During the hour-and-a-half drive to Mutianyu, you will learn more about the history of the wall and practical tips for your visit. You will have ample time to visit the wall. Be sure to take the toboggan down if you’ve visited the eastern part of the wall.
The toboggan run is included in the entrance fee. Also, the tip to bring plenty of water and food. Some sections are very steep and there is considerable scrambling. In high temperatures, this is quite spicy. Do not go to the wall on a Monday, as that is when all Beijing attractions are closed, and many tourists go to the wall.
If you can choose, go on Tuesday. Then it is always very quiet at the wall. A visit to the Great Wall of China with kids is guaranteed to be a memory for life.
#2 Square of Heavenly Peace
At 880 meters long and 550 meters wide, Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Square) is the largest square in the world, and definitely a must see in Beijing with kids. The square dates back to the early 15th century when the adjacent Forbidden City was built. It is really bizarrely large and there is room for a million people.
Once every 5 years on the national holiday (Oct. 1) there is a parade with fifteen thousand military personnel. The huge buildings, including the Great Hall of the People, are adapted to the immense size and the bright red national flag is prominent.
Since 1989, the square has also been one of the most infamous places in China. This because of the student uprisings (for freedom of speech) that were nipped in the bud with brute force from military tanks and ended in carnage.
Please note that you must make a reservation to enter the square. Admission is free, but you won’t enter the square without a reservation. Also, take the time to visit this square with kids, as on busy days you may have to queue for security for an hour or more. You have to pass three security checks to get into the plaza!
Once past security, you can move freely in the square. There are several access points to enter the square. Tip: Ask the accommodation where you are staying to reserve an entrance to the square. You can also do it online, but then it costs a small amount per person.
In addition to walking past the impressive buildings along the square, you can also visit Mao Zedong’s mausoleum. This is the final resting place of the communist dictator still revered in China. Especially for many older Chinese, viewing Mao is something you must have done at least once in your life.
It can be viewed at limited times, and should you find yourself in the square at the time, I will definitely recommend taking a look as well. In about fifteen minutes you will be through the mausoleum.
#3 Bike Ride
A fun way to explore Beijing with kids is by bike. There are several companies that offer bicycle tours. We booked a bike tour at the hotel where we stayed and did the following sights on this bike tour with our kids: the Hutongs, the local market, Palace of Heavenly Peace, Jingshan Park (view of the forbidden city), Bell Tower and Clock tower.
If you can choose, do the tour in the morning, when it is not so hot. You go out with a guide for a few hours and it’s a great introduction to the city. You also get to places, where as a tourist you don’t come so easily. In addition, of course, you get a lot of information about the city. At the organization Baja Bikes that also provides these bike tours, they also have bikes for kids.
If you visit Beijing with young kids who can’t ride a bike yet, you can always rent a bike with a child seat on the back. So that way you can do this fun bike tour of the city with kids of all ages. Check an online for this organized bike tour of Beijing by Baja Bikes.
#4 The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is Beijing’s most famous attraction. In the forbidden city is the 15th-century imperial palace, built for the court that, with family and harems, consisted of a few thousand people. They lived in the 980 pavilions with ninety courtyards. Between 1406 and 1911, the emperors ruled from behind a 10-meter-high wall, sealed off from the people.
With a thousand buildings and nearly ten thousand rooms, the huge palace with golden roofs is the largest imperial palace complex in the world and well worth a visit. Please note that the forbidden city is closed on Mondays. The forbidden city is easy to reach. It is located in the middle of the city near Tiananmen Square. Bring your passport if you want to buy tickets to the Forbidden City.
You will soon be quite a few hours if you want to visit all the rooms of the Forbidden City. Again, the advice is to go early in the day because of the heat, and bring some food and drink for kids, as there is little available in the Forbidden City itself.
You can also visit the city’s gardens, for which you pay an additional fee. You can then go up the hill and get a nice view of the city. It is also possible in some places to have your picture taken in traditional dress at this city. Especially with kids, this is highly recommended!
#5 Hutongs
Hutongs are narrow alleys in a working-class neighborhood, created between squares around the Forbidden City. In recent decades, the vast majority of hutongs have been replaced by new construction, but there is a growing awareness to protect the remaining hutongs and preserve the authentic Beijing of yesteryear. It is one of the most fun Beijing attractions with kids.
Shichahai and Dashilar are two areas full of Hutongs. Take metro line 8 to Shichahai or line 2 or 7 to Dashilar. Once there, you can rent a rickshaw that will take you around the nearby Hutongs. This way you will discover all the hidden gems of these charming alleys. A fun way to explore these hutongs with kids.
Other children’s activities Beijing
In addition to the Beijing activities described above, there are a number of activities you can do in Beijing with kids. We list them briefly below.
#6 Summer Palace: the Summer Palace in Beijing is also a must-see if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. You can relax and enjoy the artificial lake (which you can take a boat on with kids) and the many palaces, temples, pavilions, bridges and pagodas. There are literally hundreds of hiking trails and beautiful gardens. It is a large complex where you can easily walk around for a day.
#7 Temple of Heaven: another thing not to miss if you go to Beijing with kids is a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Of all the temples in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is certainly the most beautiful and the most famous temple. Apart from the temple itself, there is also a large park where many Chinese can be found playing music and dancing every day. The Temple of Heaven is easily reached by subway or cab.
#8 Night Market: If you are in Beijing with your kids, it is also great fun to visit a night market. An experience you won’t soon forget. You have streets full of eateries here, where vendors tout their food through a megaphone or loud voice. It is always very busy here, but that also makes it a lot of fun. You’ll see the strangest foods on a stick here: squids, worms, grasshoppers, beetles, scorpions and frogs.
The food is often fried or cooked, so in itself safe to eat, but the choice is yours. Highly recommended is Wangfujing Snack Street. This street is located downtown east of Tiananmen Square.
#9 Olympic Park: In 2008, the Olympics were held in Beijing. At the time, the most expensive Olympics ever. A fun children’s activity is to visit the Olympic Park. You may remember the Olympic Stadium (or Bird’s Nest), and the Olympic Swimming Pool (also known as the Water Cube). Both stadiums can be visited. There is also a 128-meter tower at Olympic Park, but unfortunately you can no longer climb it.
#10 China Science And Technology Museum: this is a fun museum to visit in Beijing with kids. The museum is really geared toward children and has many interactive exhibits that are very educational for kids. From the Olympic Park you can walk to the museum in about 15 minutes, so these two activities are good to combine.
#11 Sony Explora Museum: this is another science museum in Beijing that you can visit with kids. This museum can get crowded with groups of school children.
#12 Beijing Zoo: You can also go to the zoo in Beijing with the family. This zoo has many large animals for you to view and the highlight of this zoo is the panda bears that come from Chengdu. You pay a small additional fee to view this enclosure of the pandas.
#13 DongTu Theatre Acrobatic Show: you can also go to the circus in Beijing with kids. This is a fun show with several spectacular parts such as tightrope walkers and motorcycles. Especially with young kids a fun children’s activity in Beijing.
Family-friendly restaurant Beijing
In Beijing, the choice of family-friendly restaurants is huge. If you find it hard to choose, you can always visit a food court. Every shopping mall in Beijing has a food court, where you have a lot of restaurants and so there is actually always something for every family member. Especially with kids, these food courts are very convenient.
Of course, eating Peking duck cannot be missed when visiting Beijing. You can eat it in many restaurants. Check Tripadvisor for a nearby restaurant. You can also eat fast food very easily in Beijing with kids. In Beijing you will find many fast food restaurants such as the Mc Donalds, Burger King, KFC or Pizza hut. With most kids, this food is always to their liking.
Family-friendly hotel Beijing
Beijing is a metropolis, which is why you have plenty of family-friendly accommodations in Beijing where you can stay with the family. We list below some of the best-reviewed family-friendly accommodations in Beijing. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Happy Dragon Alley Hotel
Mid-range accommodation: Holiday Inn Beijing Focus Square
Luxury Accommodation: Hotel Cote Cour Beijing
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Beijing.
About the author: I am Marjolijn. For over 30 years I have been traveling all over the world with my husband Frits and our kids Stijn and Jens. I have also turned my passion for travel into my profession and have been active as an independent travel consultant for some time now. So if you are looking for an unforgettable trip with your kids, I would love to help you find your next dream destination. Feel free to contact me without obligation.
